Genealogy, History and DNA

Cousin Patrick Logan notes a conundrum regarding a recent post about James Harvey Logan, son of Drury Logan and Sarah Ann Lyons Logan. James H. Logan is buried at Old Salem Cemetery in Washington County, Illinois, very near the St. Clair County line.

Recently, we had posted some new information from “Register of Baptisms in Unity R.P. [Reformed Presbyterian] Church” which gives James Harvey Logan’s date of baptism as 24 October 1853. However, James H. Logan’s tombstone has him dying 13 March 1855 with the inscription he was 1 year, 1 month, and 2 days old. That makes his date of birth 11 February 1854. Patrick points out this would make his birth date 3 months and 18 days after his baptism. Clearly, something is awry.

Since that original post, I donated the “Register of Baptisms in Unity R.P. Church” to the Wisconsin State Historical Society. My best guess is that either the Register or the transcriber of the Register or, most likely, me recorded the year of baptism incorrectly. I will get into the State Historical Society Library within the next couple of months to check this out. In the meantime, let’s assume that James Harvey Logan was baptized 24 October 1854, not 1853.